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which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
that the people are very friendly".
So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.
I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
services, they'll follow you around shouting "Fuck you! fuck you!"'
And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.
So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?
The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
that the people are very friendly".
So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.
I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
services, they'll follow you around shouting "Fuck you! fuck you!"'
And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.
So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?
Re: which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
On Fri, 16 May 2008 04:07:34 -0700 (PDT), martin
<martinaylands@yahoo,com > wrote:
>The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
>whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
>the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
>the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
>that the people are very friendly".
People are often friendly, at least in the countries I've visited,
although there are always exceptions.
Usual story - if you're polite and friendly to people, they'll usually
deal with you similarly.
>
>So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
>being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.
I was interviewed by a local radio station here in Berlin earlier in
the year as part of a "Berlin for Beginners" seminar. They were urging
me to tell them that Berliners were rude and inconsiderate, and that
the officials I had to deal with as a newcomer were all arrogant and
unpleasant.
I didn't rise to the bait. The lady at Rathaus Schöneberg who dealt
with my registration and Residence Permit had a nice smile - and a
scented candle on her desk. The people at the tax office are great
too.
>
>I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
>hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
>to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
>and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
>services, they'll follow you around shouting "Fuck you! fuck you!"'
Can't say that the guidebooks I read about Morocco painted a rosy
picture about hustlers - they prepared me quite well.
>
>And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
>all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
>doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
>the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.
In Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh I was never pelted with stones -
nor anywhere else in Morocco. Hustled, yes (continuously in Marrakesh)
but never stoned (in either sense of the word :-) )
>
>So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?
No, but Rough Guide was, shall we say, optimistic about some of the
hotels it described in Spain. Friendly and folksy they were not - they
had, to say the least, seen better days - probably before the Civil
War.
Keith (formerly of Bristol UK)
now moved to Berlin/nach Berlin umgezogen
On Fri, 16 May 2008 04:07:34 -0700 (PDT), martin
<martinaylands@yahoo,com > wrote:
>The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
>whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
>the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
>the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
>that the people are very friendly".
People are often friendly, at least in the countries I've visited,
although there are always exceptions.
Usual story - if you're polite and friendly to people, they'll usually
deal with you similarly.
>
>So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
>being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.
I was interviewed by a local radio station here in Berlin earlier in
the year as part of a "Berlin for Beginners" seminar. They were urging
me to tell them that Berliners were rude and inconsiderate, and that
the officials I had to deal with as a newcomer were all arrogant and
unpleasant.
I didn't rise to the bait. The lady at Rathaus Schöneberg who dealt
with my registration and Residence Permit had a nice smile - and a
scented candle on her desk. The people at the tax office are great
too.
>
>I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
>hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
>to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
>and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
>services, they'll follow you around shouting "Fuck you! fuck you!"'
Can't say that the guidebooks I read about Morocco painted a rosy
picture about hustlers - they prepared me quite well.
>
>And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
>all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
>doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
>the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.
In Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh I was never pelted with stones -
nor anywhere else in Morocco. Hustled, yes (continuously in Marrakesh)
but never stoned (in either sense of the word :-) )
>
>So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?
No, but Rough Guide was, shall we say, optimistic about some of the
hotels it described in Spain. Friendly and folksy they were not - they
had, to say the least, seen better days - probably before the Civil
War.
Keith (formerly of Bristol UK)
now moved to Berlin/nach Berlin umgezogen
Re: which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
"Keith Anderson" <keefy@privacy,net > wrote in message
news:l5tq241ofdgrocrjavb7t6411ml8g5utqj@4ax,com ...
> On Fri, 16 May 2008 04:07:34 -0700 (PDT), martin
> <martinaylands@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
>>The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
>>whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
>>the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
>>the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
>>that the people are very friendly".
>
> People are often friendly, at least in the countries I've visited,
> although there are always exceptions.
>
I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
fussed over.
Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore
"Keith Anderson" <keefy@privacy,net > wrote in message
news:l5tq241ofdgrocrjavb7t6411ml8g5utqj@4ax,com ...
> On Fri, 16 May 2008 04:07:34 -0700 (PDT), martin
> <martinaylands@yahoo,com > wrote:
>
>>The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
>>whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
>>the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
>>the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
>>that the people are very friendly".
>
> People are often friendly, at least in the countries I've visited,
> although there are always exceptions.
>
I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
fussed over.
Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore
Re: which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
"grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
viestissä:g0k0ct$ub9$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
>
> I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
> population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
> overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
> to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
> bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
> fussed over.
>
Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
"grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
viestissä:g0k0ct$ub9$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
>
> I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
> population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
> overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
> to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
> bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
> fussed over.
>
Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
Re: which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos <kur...@hassuserveri.fi> wrote:
> "grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
> viestissä:g0k0ct$ub...@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> > I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
> > population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
> > overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
> > to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
> > bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
> > fussed over.
>
> Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
Usenet.
Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore
On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos <kur...@hassuserveri.fi> wrote:
> "grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
> viestissä:g0k0ct$ub...@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> > I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
> > population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
> > overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
> > to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
> > bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
> > fussed over.
>
> Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
Usenet.
Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore
Re: which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
"grusl" <george.w.russell@gmail,com > kirjoitti
viestissä:e15cd402-dd2f-4659-9651-9e438d503994@w1g2000prd.googlegroups,com ...
On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos <kur...@hassuserveri.fi> wrote:
> "grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
> viestissä:g0k0ct$ub...@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> > I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
> > population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam
> > is
> > overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly
> > almost
> > to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
> > bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
> > fussed over.
>
> Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
Usenet.
I assume the subscribers fully - without any reservations whatsoever - rely
on your account of this matter. By the way, it is Russians and Poles who
drink vodka.... We drink kossu.
"grusl" <george.w.russell@gmail,com > kirjoitti
viestissä:e15cd402-dd2f-4659-9651-9e438d503994@w1g2000prd.googlegroups,com ...
On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos <kur...@hassuserveri.fi> wrote:
> "grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
> viestissä:g0k0ct$ub...@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> > I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
> > population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam
> > is
> > overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly
> > almost
> > to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
> > bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
> > fussed over.
>
> Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
Usenet.
I assume the subscribers fully - without any reservations whatsoever - rely
on your account of this matter. By the way, it is Russians and Poles who
drink vodka.... We drink kossu.
Re: which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
"Markku Grönroos" <kurkku@hassuserveri.fi> kirjoitti
viestissä:C7lXj.1977$ 03.1435@reader1.news.saunalahti.fi...
>
> "grusl" <george.w.russell@gmail,com > kirjoitti
> viestissä:e15cd402-dd2f-4659-9651-9e438d503994@w1g2000prd.googlegroups,com ...
> On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos <kur...@hassuserveri.fi> wrote:
>> "grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
>> viestissä:g0k0ct$ub...@registered.motzarella.org...
>>
>> > I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the
>> > whole
>> > population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam
>> > is
>> > overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly
>> > almost
>> > to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
>> > bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
>> > fussed over.
>>
>> Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
>
> Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
> Usenet.
>
>
> I assume the subscribers fully - without any reservations whatsoever -
> rely on your account of this matter. By the way, it is Russians and Poles
> who drink vodka.... We drink kossu.
Alright, I was dishonest: I have been drinking distillate from Kilmarnock.
"Markku Grönroos" <kurkku@hassuserveri.fi> kirjoitti
viestissä:C7lXj.1977$ 03.1435@reader1.news.saunalahti.fi...
>
> "grusl" <george.w.russell@gmail,com > kirjoitti
> viestissä:e15cd402-dd2f-4659-9651-9e438d503994@w1g2000prd.googlegroups,com ...
> On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos <kur...@hassuserveri.fi> wrote:
>> "grusl" <grusl@hotma nospam il.usual> kirjoitti
>> viestissä:g0k0ct$ub...@registered.motzarella.org...
>>
>> > I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the
>> > whole
>> > population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam
>> > is
>> > overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly
>> > almost
>> > to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
>> > bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
>> > fussed over.
>>
>> Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?
>
> Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
> Usenet.
>
>
> I assume the subscribers fully - without any reservations whatsoever -
> rely on your account of this matter. By the way, it is Russians and Poles
> who drink vodka.... We drink kossu.
Alright, I was dishonest: I have been drinking distillate from Kilmarnock.
Re: which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people? Another useless qu
rtins pals
"martin" <martinaylands@yahoo,com > a écrit dans le message de
news:7352af8f-b7fd-4b54-809f-464eb1914adc@y21g2000hsf.googlegroups,com ...
> The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
> whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
> the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
> the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
> that the people are very friendly".
>
> So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
> being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.
>
> I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
> hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
> to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
> and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
> services, they'll follow you around shouting "Fuck you! fuck you!"'
>
> And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
> all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
> doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
> the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.
>
> So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?
rtins pals
"martin" <martinaylands@yahoo,com > a écrit dans le message de
news:7352af8f-b7fd-4b54-809f-464eb1914adc@y21g2000hsf.googlegroups,com ...
> The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
> whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
> the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
> the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
> that the people are very friendly".
>
> So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
> being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.
>
> I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
> hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
> to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
> and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
> services, they'll follow you around shouting "Fuck you! fuck you!"'
>
> And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
> all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
> doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
> the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.
>
> So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?
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